Not Tractor Parts
An interview.
[white noise]
Briggs: 1, 2, 3. 1, 2, 3. This interview is being recorded. It is 4:13am on January 8th. Speaking is special agent Anderson Briggs, I am here with witness Martin Reeves. Please state your name for the tape.
Martin: Martin Reeves.
Briggs: And where do you reside?
Martin: 51-8254 Raulston Road 71.
Briggs: Your date of birth?
Martin: December 1st, 1954.
Briggs: Mr. Reeves, this department is investigating an item that recently came into your possession. What, if anything, can you tell me about this incident? Whenever you’re ready.
Martin: [sigh] A package was left on my doorstep.
Briggs: [inaudible]
Martin: Dunno. Cams at the front door caught the posty dropping it off. Assumed it was for me. No name or address on it, but it’s just me out there. Lot of acres between me and the next farm over.
Briggs: When was this?
Martin: New Years.
Briggs: Eve, or day?
Martin: Don’t you already know this?
Briggs: Eve or day, Mr. Reeves.
Martin: Day.
Briggs: I see. Around what time was this package dropped off?
Martin: 'Round eight. The cams flagged the delivery – I set ‘em up to tell me when there’s movement outside. Just me and the dog out there. Lot of city junkies think just because it’s rural country, they can steal and scrap whatever they want, so I got the cams set up a few years ago. Catches more raccoons than junkies, but it’s saved me money in the long run. Farm equipment can’t be driven off with that tech out there. The dog helps too.
Briggs: Around eight pm. And then what happened?
Martin: Went outside to see what got dropped off.
Briggs: And you brought it inside?
Martin: Nope. Left it on the doorstep and had a light.
Briggs: You didn’t check it? Touch it?
Martin: Not right then.
Briggs: Why?
Martin: Wasn't overly curious. Maybe a late Christmas present.
Briggs: A late Christmas present? From who?
Martin: Dunno. Anyways, finished my light and brought it inside. I was waiting. My kid was supposed to come with his kid. No show.
Briggs: No?
Martin: Nope. Figured the mama decided to take him back. They’re always on and off. They didn’t spend Christmas together. Maybe she wanted New Years. I always told him he needed to get himself together or she’d leave.
Briggs: Mr. Reeves-
Martin: Lauren is a good kid. Grew up a few hours away. We saw their family at the market on Sundays, load of kids in a wagon holding flowers from their greenhouse. I didn’t wanna see him wreck her too. Then they got pregnant and she musta thought it was too late to turn back. I don’t know who she was afraid of disappointing. God or her mama maybe. Glad she started sticking up for herself at some point.
Briggs: What about the box?
Martin: What about it?
Briggs: Mr. Reeves - can I call you Martin?
Martin: Guess so.
Briggs: Martin. Tell me about the box.
Martin: Not much to talk about. Regular box. Picked it up after my light and brought it in, left it on the dining table and cracked a beer. Left it there until yesterday.
Briggs: You didn’t examine it?
Martin: The beer?
Briggs: The box.
Martin: Just a box. Pretty unremarkable.
Briggs: You didn’t check for a label? Shake it? Weren’t you curious as to who sent it?
Martin: Nope. Could have been parts I’d ordered for the tractor.
Briggs: You said you thought it was a late Christmas present.
Martin: I said maybe.
Briggs: Tell me about yesterday.
Martin: Forgot about it. I don’t use the table much. Eat on the couch or the barn most days. Stopped using the table when my wife died. I’d give it away but the room would feel too empty.
Briggs: What happened yesterday, Martin.
Martin: It smelled.
Briggs: Can you elaborate?
Martin: Started to smell! Alright? I don’t know what else you want me to say 'bout it. Smelled like somethin' died. I know what death smells like. Once you know it you won’t forget it. Dead rats under the floorboards, dead animal in a river, mice in the hay... Rotting flesh was what it was. Somethin' formerly living.
Briggs: And you only noticed yesterday.
Martin: I told you, I don’t go in there. I forgot about it.
Briggs: How could you forget a potential Christmas present, or tractor parts? Both sound pretty important.
Martin: I don’t know. I told you, I was drinking. I was upset my kid didn’t show up. Haven’t seen him or my grandkid in a while.
Briggs: Why?
Martin: They don’t come over much.
Briggs: What did you do when you started to smell the box?
Martin: Knew it wasn’t tractor parts.
Briggs: Mr. Ree- Martin. What did you do?
Martin: Followed my nose. Thought maybe it was a prank, and not a good one. Meant to burn it in the pile outside but it had rained. Tossed it in a bag in the garbage shed.
Briggs: You didn’t open it?
Martin: Didn’t want to smell it more than I had to, less touch it. Came back in the house and washed my hands. Was making lunch when your officers knocked at my door. That was around noon.
Briggs: Then what happened?
Martin: Told me they were from the city. Asked if I’d gotten anything in the mail recently. Told them I’d got a few letters, and the box. Told them it was out in the shed. They asked to see it.
Briggs: Did the officers tell you what they were investigating?
Martin: No. Just asked to see the box.
Briggs: I see. Go on.
Martin: So I took them out to the shed, and they put their gloves on. Asked if they could take it with them.
Briggs: And they opened the box?
Martin: Nope. They were wearing gloves, put it in a big bag in their cruiser. Asked a few questions, what I’ve been doing for the last week, when did the box get there, did I see how it got there.
Briggs: Were you ever curious about what was in the box?
Martin: Well sure, after. Didn’t pay much mind to it until it started stinking up the place.
Briggs: Did you ask the officers what was in it?
Martin: Didn’t open it in front of me. Didn't get the chance.
Briggs: Thank you.
Martin: Is that it?
Briggs: A few more questions. You said you were waiting for your son and grandson, the day the box showed up?
Martin: Yep. Didn’t show.
Briggs: I remember. Did they ever get in touch with you?
Martin: Nope.
Briggs: You didn’t call him? Check where they were?
Martin: Thought they went to Lauren’s instead.
Briggs: Is that normal?
Martin: Only think I could think of. Else, they just didn’t want to come out to see me. I don’t blame them. They could have let me know though. Food was ready.
Briggs: Did you ever reach out? Check why they didn’t make it?
Martin: Nope. If they didn’t show up, must have meant they didn’t want to come or decided they wanted to do something else. There’s not much else to take from that. We don’t talk much anyway.
Briggs: Martin, when was the last time you spoke with your son? What was his name?
Martin: Jonas. And Christmas. He called on Christmas so I could talk to Jack.
Briggs: Is that your grandson?
Martin: Yeah.
Briggs: During that call, did your son confirm he was still coming to visit on New Years?
Martin: That was when he asked if they could come.
Briggs: They weren’t coming before that?
Martin: Nope.
Briggs: Did your son say why he wanted to visit?
Martin: Nope. Just asked if he and Jack could come up for New Years. Thought we could light some fireworks off for Jack. Kid loves the lights.
Briggs: And that was the last time you spoke to him?
Martin: Yes. Why?
Briggs: Mr. Reeves, please take a look at the photos in this duo tang. Starting from the top, if you wouldn’t mind.
Martin: ……….......………
Briggs: Please state what you’re looking at for the record.
Martin: It’s… shit, well, it’s an arm. Was that what was inside the box?
Briggs: Please look at the next photo and state what you’re seeing.
Martin: It’s a leg.
Briggs: Mr. Reeves, can you identify the tattoo on the side here? What do you see.
Martin: ...Oh, God. [breaking down] Oh, God.
Briggs: Mr. Reeves, can you identify the tattoo?
Martin: It’s… a blue butterfly. Date 2004 underneath. Swirly text.
Briggs: Mr. Reeves, do you-
Martin: …Tell me that ain’t Lauren.
Briggs: Mr. Reeves, sit down.
Martin: Did he off her? Is that why I’m here? Jack, what about Jack? Where is he?
Briggs: Sit down, Mr. Reeves.
Martin: Don’t tell me to sit down! That’s Lauren’s tattoo. Where is Jack!
Briggs: Mr. Reeves, when was the last time you heard from Jonas?
Martin: I TOLD you, Christmas! Oh, God. He murdered her on Christmas, that poor kid. I should have done something… I should have called, should have gone, I could have gone there, I should’ve…
Briggs: Sit. Down. Mr. Reeves.
Martin: Where. Is. My. Grandson.
Briggs: Martin, this isn’t Lauren.
Martin: Of course it is! She got that tattoo for an anniversary, they drove to a parlour in Tachita to get it done ‘specially.
Briggs: I’m afraid you’re incorrect. Sit down.
Martin: He split her apart, just like he did in life. That rotten, despicable, sick-
Briggs: It’s Jonas.
Martin: -sick son of a… What?
Briggs: These limbs were found sealed in boxes and sent to specific people within the State. Our coroners matched the DNA to multiple police documented incidents involving your son, and tracked the patterns to determine where the next boxes might be found.
Martin: What... what are you saying?
Briggs: I’m afraid the body parts all belong to Jonas.
Martin: I… All? How much of him was there?!
Briggs: Jack is safe. We tracked him to his mother.
Martin: And Lauren, is she…
Briggs: She confessed.
Martin: [unintelligible moaning]
Briggs: He beat her, Mr. Reeves. Did you know that? The DNA we had on file, some of it was taken from samples off Lauren when she filed complains for domestic abuse.
Martin: [quiet crying]
Briggs: She claimed it was self-defense. The way she disposed of his body led us to believe this was planned. They had matching tattoos. Perhaps she’d hoped to take revenge and then take off with Jack.
Martin: But… why send one to me?
Briggs: The box? You were her father-in-law, were you not?
Martin: I…
Briggs: She wanted an end to it. Desperately enough she couldn’t think of any other way to do it. Perhaps the recipients played a part in the abuse, in one way or another, and this was her way of finding her own justice. No one can say for sure.
Martin: Jack. What about Jack?
Briggs: What about him?
Martin: I want to see him.
Briggs: A social worker is taking good care of him, Mr. Reeves.
Martin: A social - I’m his grandpa! He belongs with me!
Briggs: He’s completely safe, Mr. Reeves. Until the investigation is over, we- Mr. Reeves, please calm yourself.
Martin: Give him to me! You can’t take him, he’s all I’ll have! Let me see my grandson, GIVE him to ME!
Briggs: Mr. Reeves! Martin! Calm your-
[clattering]
[screeching]
[white noise]
About the Creator
Lark Hanshan
A quiet West Coast observer. Writing a sentence onto a blank page and letting what comes next do what it must.
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